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Saint Louis University vs Washington University (St. Louis)
Saint Louis University Law School · St. Louis, MO | Washington University (St. Louis) Law School · St. Louis, MO
This pairing is listed because these two schools are same city in St. Louis — the circumstances in which one school is a realistic alternative to the other.
Side by side
All figures from the 2025 ABA 509 reporting cycle. Bold marks the stronger figure on each row where a direction exists.
| Measure | Saint Louis University | Washington University (St. Louis) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 56.43% | 18.96% | +37.5 |
| Median LSAT | 157 | 175 | −18 |
| Median GPA | 3.61 | 3.96 | −0 |
| Annual tuition | $55,260 | $72,792 | −17,532 |
| 3-year total cost | $246,906 | $306,861 | −59,955 |
| Median grant / year | $25,000 | $48,000 | −23,000 |
| Net tuition after grant | not reported | not reported | — |
| First-year class size | 222 | 261 | −39 |
| Offer yield | not reported | not reported | — |
| Class fill | 99.1% | 98.9% | +0.2 |
| Bar pass (1st time) | 89.1% | 89.6% | −0.5 |
Bold is not a recommendation. On cost and acceptance it marks the lower number; on grant aid and bar passage the higher one. Where no direction applies — median LSAT, GPA and class size — nothing is bolded, because a higher median LSAT is not obviously better than a lower one for a given applicant.
Where the two differ most
Ranked by the size of the gap relative to Washington University (St. Louis)'s figure. These are the differences most likely to change a decision.
| Measure | Saint Louis University | Washington University (St. Louis) | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 56.43% | 18.96% | +37.5percentage points |
| Median grant / year | $25,000 | $48,000 | −23,000in dollars |
| Annual tuition | $55,260 | $72,792 | −17,532in dollars |
| 3-year total cost | $246,906 | $306,861 | −59,955in dollars |
Cost compared
Both schools report tuition, mandatory fees and living costs, so a full three-year figure can be computed for each. This is the comparison that tuition-only rankings cannot make.
| Component (per year) | Saint Louis University | Washington University (St. Louis) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual tuition | $55,260 | $72,792 |
| 3-year total cost | $246,906 | $306,861 |
| Median grant / year | $25,000 | $48,000 |
| Net tuition after median grant | — | — |
Net tuition subtracts the median grant from annual tuition. It is an optimistic floor: the median covers only students who received aid, and it assumes the same award holds for all three years. See the full cost ranking for every school.
Outcomes compared
| Measure | Saint Louis University | Washington University (St. Louis) |
|---|---|---|
| First-time bar passage | 89.1% | 89.6% |
| Offer yield | 41.4% | 24.2% |
| Class fill | 99.1% | 98.9% |
| Students enrolled | 220 | 258 |
| First-year class size | 222 | 261 |
The national median offer yield is 31.6%. Offer yield measures how many admitted students chose each school; class fill measures whether the class was filled. A low yield is common and usually reflects a wide offer policy rather than a school students avoid.
Choosing between them
- There is no better school here, only a different one. These figures describe cohort averages. Where your own profile falls relative to a school's admitted range matters more than any published median.
- Cost is a family question, not a ranking. The three-year figure covers tuition, fees and published living costs. It does not include books, a laptop, travel home, or the income lost to three years of not working.
- Grant figures are history, not offers. Both medians describe past cohorts. Your award depends on your circumstances, the school's policy and its aid budget that year.
- Bar passage is heavily shaped by selectivity. A school that admits broadly and passes fewer of its own admittees is not necessarily providing a weaker education; the comparison is confounded by who each school chooses.
Full details on each school
| Saint Louis University | Washington University (St. Louis) | |
|---|---|---|
| Admissions data | All Saint Louis University admissions data | All Washington University (St. Louis) admissions data |
| Admissions funnel | Funnel & yield | Funnel & yield |
| Financial aid | Grants & aid bands | Grants & aid bands |
| Cost | Cost of attendance | Cost of attendance |
Other comparisons
Other Washington University (St. Louis) pairings, and other alternatives to Saint Louis University.
- No further pairings available for these two schools.
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate at Saint Louis University vs Washington University (St. Louis)?
Saint Louis University admitted 56.43% of applicants while Washington University (St. Louis) admitted 18.96%.
Which is cheaper, Saint Louis University or Washington University (St. Louis)?
Over three years, Saint Louis University costs $59,955 less. Saint Louis University runs $246,906 and Washington University (St. Louis) runs $306,861, including tuition, mandatory fees and disclosed living costs.
Which school offers more financial aid, Saint Louis University or Washington University (St. Louis)?
Saint Louis University reports a median grant of $25,000 per year for full-time students, compared with $48,000 at Washington University (St. Louis). Median figures describe past cohorts and are not aid offers.
Source: ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures, 2025 reporting cycle, for Saint Louis University Law School and Washington University (St. Louis) Law School. Three-year cost totals multiply one year of disclosed tuition, mandatory fees and living costs by three; the 509 does not disclose program length. Figures describe the most recent entering class and past aid cohorts. Not financial advice and not a recommendation of either school.